Gate hinge structure



1950 w. A; GILMORE GATE HINGE STRUCTURE Filed May 13, 1946 I6 INVENTOR.

WILL/AM .4. 61L MORE ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 14, 1950 ITE D STATES PAT EN T OFFICE GATE HINGE STRUCTURE William A. Gilmore, Dayton, Ohio Application May 13, 1946,.SerialNo. 669,404

9' Claims. I

This invention relates to a gate and more particularly to a gate of the type known as a farm gate.

.One object of the invention is to provide a gate of aconstruction which-will prevent or materially reduce the sagging thereof.

In the ordinary farm gate the longitudinal gate boards with which the hinges are connected are subjected to severe strains by the weight of the free end. portion of the gate,v and it is a, further object. of the invention to eliminate or greatly reduce these strains.

A further objectof .the invention is to provide a gate in which the hinge bearing has direct supporting connection with .theupright structure at the rear end-of the gate independently of the hinge member-by which the bearing is carried.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a gate which is of astrong durable construction and which can bemanufactured .at a relatively low cost.

Other. objects of theinvention may appear .as the gate is described in detail.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is. a .side elevation, partly broken. away, of a gate embodyingthe invention; Fig. 2 a top plan view of a rear portion .of the gate; Fig. 3 is a sideelevation of that portion of the gate shown in Fig. 2'; Fig. 4 is a side elevation .of a portionof the gate with one of the hingemembers partly insection; and Fig. 5 is asection taken on the .line .5--5 ,ofFig. 3.

.Inthese drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of the-invention and have shown the same applied toa gate,..the general construction oiwhich is well known. It is to'be understood, however, that the invention may take various forms and .may be applied to gates of various kinds without departing .from the spirit of the invention.

. In the particular embodiment here illustrated the gate comprises. a plurality of longitudinal members .or narrowboards 6 rigidly secured at theirrear ends to an upright structure 1 and connected one to the other .in vertically .spacedrelation by a plurality of bars 8 spaced apart lengthwise -.of the gate. The gate is reenforced b diagonal brace bars '9 connected .at their rear ends with the upper end portionof the .uprightlstructure 'l .and also connected with the several gate boards. The upright structure at the rear .end of the .gate is of a special constructionand comprises an upright angle bar [0, one flange H of which extends inwardlynacross the ends ofthe gate members or boards 6 and the ends .of the boards abut against theilange llsothat the contact of the squared ends of the'boards'with the flange tends to support the boards in horizontal positions and to prevent the sagging thereof. A second angle bar [2V is arranged at that side of the gate opposite the angle bar I 0 and the flange [3 thereof extends outwardly from the gate. The two angle bars are arranged with their other flanges on opposite sides of the gate boards and with their transverse flanges H and I3 substantially in alinement and are rigidly secured to the gate boards by bolts [4 and I5. The gate is provided adjacent the top and bottom thereof with hinge members l6, each hinge member preferably comprising a metal strap bent to U shape. The legs H and [8 of each U-shaped strap extend across the angle bars, along with the respective sides of one of the gate boards 6 and are rigidly secured thereto by the bolt l4 and by a second bolt I9, the outwardly extending flange 13 of the angle bar l2 being. provided with a recess v29 through which the leg I8 of the strap extends. The brace bars are arranged between the legs of the U-shaped strap and the angle bars and are secured thereto by the bolt [4. The rear or looped portion 2| 0f the hinge strap extends rearwardly beyond the gate and is provided with means for pivotally supporting the same on'the upright pintle 22 of a stationary hinge member which is usuall mounted on a post, not shown, and which is preferably of the well known L shape, as shown at 23. It is very diflicult to bend the hinge strap so that all portions of the inner surface of the curved or loopedshaped end there- .ofare spaced equal distancesfrom a common center, and consequently it is not feasible to utilize the curved surface of the hinge strap as a bearing surface. I have, therefore, mounted in the looped end portion of each hinge strap a bearing member or bushing .24 adapted to receive the pintle of the stationary hinge member. The bearing member is preferably of a length .slightly greater than the vertical width of the hingestrap and is provided with a vertical bore .25 to receive the pintle 22 of, the stationary hinge member. The bearing member maybe supported in the hinge member I6 and held against vertical displacement therein in various ways, and :as here shown it comprises va cylindrical body 24a con-.- forming approximately to the curvature of-the looped end of the hinge member and which .is provided at its upper and lower ends withciroumferential flanges .26 and .21 which respectively extend above and below the corresponding edges of the hinge strap, the upper, flange 26 supporting the bearing member on the hinge strap .and

the lower flange 21 preventing substantial upward movement of the bearing member with relation to the hinge strap. The flanges 26 and 21 of the bearing member preferably engage the inwardly extending flange II of the angle bar l and when in such engagement retain the bearing member in its rearmost position in the looped end of the hinge strap.

When the gate is supported in normal operative position on the stationary hinge members the entire weight of the gate is carried by the bearing members, and due to the tendency of the forward or free end of the gate to move downwardly or sag, a heavy load is imposed on the bearing members. If the bearing members were connected with the gate by the hinge straps only the major portion of the load would be transmitted from the gate boards to the hinge straps, through the bolts l4 and I9, and from the hinge straps to the bearing members. Thus the gate boards to which the hinge straps are connected would be subjected to severe strains which would tend to split the boards or enlarge the bolt holes therein, or both, and this would be true even though the bolt holes l4 extend through the angle bars l0 and I2 and the rear ends of the boards engage the flange H. To relieve the gate boards of these strains I have provided means for so connecting the bearing members with the rear upright structure or angle bars that the load will be transmitted from the angle bars directly to the bearing members, thereby distributing the strains throughout the gate, only a small portion of the weight of the gate being imposed on the hinge straps and the boards to which they are connected.

In the present construction the means for connecting the bearing members with the upright structure comprises lugs 28 rigid with and extending rearwardly from one of the angle bars and having supporting connection with the respective bearing members. In the arrangement shown the free end portion of each lug extends between the upper and lower flanges of the corresponding bearing member and is of such width that it can have no substantial vertical movement with relation to the bearing member, Thus the weight of the gate is imposed on the hearing members directly by the upright structure and not through the hinge straps. Preferably the lugs 28 are struck from the outwardly extending flange l3 of the angle bar I 2, by severing the upper and lower edges of the lug from the flange and bending the same rearwardly. In the present instance these lugs comprise the parts which are struck from the flange l3 to provide the recesses through which the legs I8 of the hinge straps extend. In the event the looped portion of the hinge strap extends rearwardly beyond the upright structure such a distance that the flanges of the bearing member do not contact the flange ll of the angle bar It] the end of the lug 28 may be caused to engage the cylindrical portion of the bearing member and thus I retain the latter in contact with the curved end of the hinge strap.

It will be apparent, therefore, that I have provided a very strong durable gate construction which has little tendency'to sag; that the hinge members are built into and form a part of the gate structure itself and that they are provided with hearing members bores of which form efflcient bearings forthe pintles of th stationary hinge members; and that the construction is such as to provide a direct supporting connection between the bearing members and the rigid upright structure at the rear end of the gate and to thereby relieve the hinge straps, and therefore the gate boards to which they are attached, from the major portion of the weight of the gate.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details thereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a gate of the type having a plurality of vertically spaced longitudinal members and a rigid upright supporting structure secured to the rear ends of said longitudinal members, a hinge member rigidly secured to said gate and extending rearwardly beyond'said upright structure, a bearing member carried by the rearwardly extending part of said hinge member and adapted to receive the pintle of a stationary hinge member, and a part rigid with said upright structure, extending rearwardly therefrom and having direct supportin connection with said bearing member.

2. In a gate of the type having a plurality of vertically spaced longitudinal members and a rigid upright supporting structure secured to the rear ends of said longitudinal members and including an angle bar having a laterally extending flange, a hinge member secured to one of said longitudinal members and to said upright structure and extending rearwardly beyond the latter, a bearing member carried by said hinge member and adapted to receive the pintle of a stationary hinge member, and a part struck from said flange, extending rearwardly therefrom and having supporting connection with said bearing member.

3. In a gate of the type having a plurality of vertically spaced longitudinal members and an upright structure secured to the rear ends of said longitudinal members and including an angle bar having a lateral extending flange, a U-shaped hinge member rigidly secured to said gate with its legs on opposite sides of said upright structure and its looped end portion extending rearwardly beyond said structure, a bearing member in said looped portion of said hinge member, having a vertical bore to receive the :pintle of a stationary hinge member, said bearing member having upper and lower flanges extendv ing across the respective legs of said U-shaped hinge member, and a part rigid with said angle bar and extending rearwardly between and substantially in contact with the flanges of said bearing member.

4. In a gate of the type having a plurality of vertically spaced longitudinal members and'an upright structure secured to the rear ends of said longitudinal members and including an angle bar having a laterally extending flange, a U-shaped hinge member rigidly secured to said gate with its legs on opposite sides of said upright structure and its looped end portion extending rearwardly beyond said structure, and a bearing member supported in said looped portion of said hinge member to receive the pintle of a second hinge member, said flange of said angle bar having a part struck therefrom, extending rearwardly between the legs of said U-shaped hinge member and having supporting connection with said bearing member.

5. In a gate of the type having a plurality of Vertically spaced longitudinal members and an upright structure secured to the rear ends of said longitudinal members and including an angle bar arranged with one flange thereof extending outwardly from said gate, a U-shaped hinge member rigidly secured to said gate with its legs on opposite sides of said upright structure and its looped end portion extending rearwardly beyond said structure, a bearing member mounted in said rearwardly extending portion of said hinge memben'and a part severed at its upper and lower edges from said outwardly extending flange of said angle bar, bent rearwardly therefrom and having supporting engagement with said bearing member to transfer the weight of said gate from said rupright structure directly to said bearing member.

6. In a gate a plurality of longitudinal members arranged one above the other, means for connecting said members one with the other in vertically spaced relation and including a pair of upright angle bars secured to the rear end portions of said longitudinal members, one flange of one of said angle bars extending inwardly across and substantially in contact with the rear ends of said longitudinal members and one flange of the other of said angle bars extending outwardly, vertically spaced U-shaped hinge straps, each strap having its legs extending across the re-- spective angle bars and secured to said gate, and having its looped end portion extending rearwardly beyond said angle bars, a bearing member mounted in said looped portion of each hinge strap to receive the pintle of a stationary hinge member, said bearing member including a body and upper and lower flanges to engage the respective edges of said hinge strap, and a part partially severed from said outwardly extending flange of the last-mentioned angle bar and extending rearwardly between the flanges of said bearing member to establish direct supporting connection between said angle bar and said bearing member.

7. In a gate a plurality of longitudinal members arranged one above the other, means for connecting said members one with the other in vertically spaced relation and including a pair of upright angle bars securedto the rear end portions of said longitudinal members, one flange of one of said angle bars extending inwardly across the rear ends of said longitudinal members substantially in contact therewith, one flange of the other of said angle bars extending outwardly substantially in the vertical plane of said inwardly extending flange, U-shaped hinge memlbers secured respectively to the upper and lower portions of said gate with their looped portions projecting rearwardly beyond the same and with their legs extending across said angle bars, and [parts rigid with the outwardly extending flange of the last-mentioned angle bar, extending rearwardly therefrom and having supporting connection with the respective bearing members.

8. In a gate a plurality of longitudinal members arranged one above the other, means for connecting said members one with the other in vertically spaced relation and including a. pair of upright angle bars secured to the rear end portions of said longitudinal members, one flange of one of said angle bars extending inwardly across the rear ends of said longitudinal members substantially in contact therewith, one flange of the other of said angle bars extending outwardly substantially in the vertical plane Olf said inwardly extending flange, U-shaped hinge members secured respectively to the upper and lower portions of said gate with their looped .portions projecting rearwardly beyond the same and with their legs extending across said angle bars, and bearing members mounted in the looped'portions of said hinge straps to receive the pintles of stationary hinge members, each bearing member having a cylindrical body provided with a vertical bore and with circumferential flanges extending respectively above and below said hinge strap, and the outwardly extending flange of the last-mentioned angle bar having lugs struck therefrom and extending rearwardly therefrom between and substantially in contact with the flanges of the respective bearing members.

9. In a gate a plurality of longitudinal members arranged one above the other, means for connecting said members onewith the other in vertically spaced relation and including a pair of upright angle bars secured to the rear end portions of said longitudinal members, one flange of one of said angle bars extending inwardly across the rear ends of said longitudinal members substantially in contact therewith, one flange of the other of said angle bars extending outwardly substantially in the vertical :plane of said inwardly extending flange, U-s'haped hinge members secured respectively to the upper and lower portions of said gate with their looped portions projecting rearwardly beyond the same and with their legs extending across said angle bars, and bearing members mounted in the looped portions of said hinge straps to receive the pintles of stationary hinge members, each bearing member having a cylindrical body provided with a vertical bore and with circumferential flanges extending respectively above and below said hinge strap, and the outwardly extending flange of the last-mentioned angle bar having lugs struck therefrom to form recesses through which the adjacent legs of said hinge straps extend, said lugs extending rearwardly from said flange between and substantially in contact with the flanges of the respective bearing members.

WILLIAM A. GILMORE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 641,272 Cook Jan. 16, 1900 928,798 Rowe July 20, 1909 1,038,443 Rowe Sept. 10, 1912 1,102,372 Webster July 7, 1914 1,162,311 Rowe Nov. 30, 1915 1,171,903 Swank et a1 Feb. 15, 1916 1,294,712 Rowe Feb. 18, 1919 

